Religious ornament



Nov. 18, 1947. M. LORIAUX RELIGIOUS ORNAMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 28, 1944 NOV. 18, 1947. M, LORlAUX I 2,431,055

RELIGIOUS ORNAMENT Filed Nov. 28, 1944 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Inventof vllaar/celzor/bg a3:

Patented Nov. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RELIGIOUS ORNAMENT Maurice L. Loriaux, Bartlesville, Okla.

Application November 28, 1944, Serial No. 565,540

2 Claims.

The invention relates to a religious ornament having a portion whose surface is treated with a compound including fluorescent dyes so as to appear self-luminous when the treated surface is subjected to ultra-violet or equivalent substantially invisible light.

An object of the invention is to provide an ornament of the above kind having a portion treated with a compound resulting from fusion of nonfluorescent pigments, fluorescent dyes, lacquers and salts, in proper proportions to provide flesh and other natural color tones which appear lifelike when the treated portion is rendered luminous by subjecting the same to substantially invisible light.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ornament of the above kind having a hollow forwardly projecting portion above the treated portion of the ornament, said hollow portion forming a housing which contains and screens from view the source of ultra-violet or substantially invisible light.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ornament of the above kind whose treated portion embodies a religious figure formed in relief and posed to provide a maximum of surface to be rendered luminous by a source ofsubstantially invisible light located directly above and in front of the figure.

Still another object is to provide a unitary ornament of the above kind which includes the source of substantially invisible light and an attachment cord for the latter, whereby the device may be readily placed in use by merely mounting or hanging the same and engaging the attachment plug of the cord in an outlet receptacle of a house wiring system.

A still further object is to provide an ornament of the above kind having a background portion whose surface is treated with petroleum stains which absorb the rays of substantially invisible light and afford the desired contrast of a brilliant luminous figure against a dark or nonbrilliant background.

More specific objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the drawings and claimed,

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a reli- 2 gious ornament embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a substantially central vertical section taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the ornament shown merely by way of example includes a lower part cast from plaster-of-Paris or other suitable material and composed of a cross Ill formed with a figure l I of the Saviour thereon in relief, as in an ordinary crucifix. Ihe ornament further includes a support in the form of an upper ornamental housing l2 that is hollow and open at the bottom and whose rear or back wall has an ornamental depending portion I3 on which the part Ill, I l is secured so as to be clearly visible. As shown, the housing I2 includes a roof i l, a front wall I5, the back wall, and ornamental side walls 11. Thus, the housing of the support affords a chamber located above and projecting forwardly of the part to be rendered luminous. Arranged and suitably supported in the forward portion of the chamber lb of housing I2 is a source of ultra-violet or equivalent substantially invisible light that may consist of an argon gas lamp 1.) arranged within a suitable reflector 20 equipped with a blue or equivalent filter 2| through which the rays from the lamp l9 pass onto the part which is to be rendered luminous. It will be apparent that the source of substantially invisible light is screened from view by arranging it in the chamber lb of housing l3, but said source of light is maintained in close proximity to the part to be rendered luminous. As the housing is arranged overhead, the rays of light are directed downwardly and rearwardly therefrom onto the part ID, H, as clearly shown in Figure 3. Also, in order to get a three-dimensional effect, the source of light is preferably located on an angle and slightly to one side of the vertical center of the part In, II, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1.

The part It), II has its exposed surface treated with the compound of non-fluorescent pigments, fluorescent dyes, lacquers and salts, the ingredients being blended so as to give the proper colors and tones when illuminated by visible light or rendered luminous by invisible light. By proper use of the non-fluorescent pigments in connection with the fluorescent dyes, lacquers and salts, flesh and other natural color tones are had which are attractive when illuminated by visible light and very lifelike when rendered luminous by substantially invisible light. Also, dark tones are provided in this way for the portions of the treated part that simulate hair and other elements that are naturally dark and lack brilliance. The figure II is so formed and posed as to provide a maximum of surface to be rendered luminous by the source of light when the latter is located directly above and in front of the treated part, as contemplated herein,

The exposed surface of the depending rear wall portion 12 is coated with petroleum stains which absorb the rays of substantially invisible filtered light and afford the desired contrast of an illuminated figure against a dark or non-brilliant background.

Current is supplied to the lamp l9 by means of an attachment cord 22 provided at its free end with an attachment plug 23 adapted for engagement in an outlet receptacle of a house wiring system. Any suitable means may be provided to facilitate attachment of the back wall of the housing to a wall or other support, and it will be apparent that the invention provides a unitary ornament that may be readily placed in use by merely hanging the same and engaging the attachment plug in the outlet receptacle.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in many different types and kinds of ornaments, the illustrated embodiment being merely shown by way of example. The ornament can include a figure of life or smaller size, as long as proper lighting is provided for. Also, the housingfor screening the light source from View can be designed in various ways as long as arrangement of the source at proper angles is provided for.

An important feature of the invention is the treatment of the figure H with a compound of non-fluorescent pigments, fluorescent dyes, lac quers and salts, so that natural colors and tones are provided which are attractive when illuminated by visible light and highly attractive and life-like when rendered luminous by properly filtered, substantially invisible light. The figure will appear life-like and will glow brilliantly when rendered luminous in surrounding darkness, and the source of illumination will be obscured from View so that the figure will appear to be self-luminous. The filter 2| is of correct strength to eliminate visible light and insure creation of the illusion of a glowing life-like figure when the latter is rendered luminous in surrounding darkness, the support and source of light being obscured from view.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will be 4 readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. The invention contemplates such modifications and changes of details illustrated and described as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed,

What I claim as new is:

1. A religious ornament comprising a lower portion having a religious figure in relief whose surface is treated with fluorescent material, a hollow forwardly projecting upper portion, and a source of substantially invisible light mounted within said hollow portion and arranged to direct the rays of invisible light downwardly and rearwardly onto the figure, said hollow portion forming a housing which screens the source of light from view, said lower portion further including a wall on which the figure is mounted and whose surface forms a background for the figure, said background surface being coated with petroleum stains which absorb the rays of invisible light.

2. A religious ornament comprising a lower portion having a religious figure in relief whose surface is treated with fluorescent material, a hollow forwardly projecting upper portion, and a source of substantially invisible light mounted within said hollow portion and arranged to direct the rays of invisible light downwardly and rearwardly onto the figure, said hollow portion forming a housing which screens the source of light from view, and a backing for said figure treated with petroleum stain to afford a non-brilliant background for the figure.

MAURICE L. LORIAUX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,301,174 Dietz Nov. 10, 1942 Re. 12,812 Hammer June 16, 1908 2,380,351 Williams July 10, 1945 2,356,454 Ferguson Aug. 22, 1944 1,004,503 Troy Sept. 26, 1911 2,267,094 Halsey Dec. 23, 1941 1,025,338 Troy May 7, 1912 2,351,918 Brennan June 20, 1944 2,138,443 Cavalero Nov. 29, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 575,601 France Apr, 24, 1924 

